Nut cracking and shelling machine



A. D. GOODWIN NUT CRACKING AND SHELLING MACHINE March 14, 1950 Filed April 8, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Hl), Goodwin ATTORNEYS March 14, 1950 A. D. GOODWIN 2,500,675

NUT CRACKING AND SHELLING MACHINE Filed April 8, 1947 1 A 2 sheets-sheet 2 Aer INVENTOR -ALD Goodw in BY fb/jimi ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 14, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NUT CRACKING AND SHELLING MACHINE Alfred D. Goodwin, Manteca, Calif.

Application April 8, 1947, Serial No. 740,165

2 Claims.

This invention is directed to, and it is an object to provide, an improved nut cracking and shelling machine adapted especially for use with almonds.

The present invention represents improvements over the machine shown in my U. S. Patent No. 2,324,382, dated July 13, 1943.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a nut cracking and shelling machine of the type described, which includes a cracking rotor, a cracking plate unit, and a grate unit; all of improved design and function, looking toward ready and effective cracking and shellingof nuts with minimum of nut meat breakage.

An additional object is to provide a machine, as in the preceding paragraph, in which the rotor includes new type cracking bars; the cracking plate unit has a center section removable for replacement or repair; both the cracking plate unit and grate unit are mounted for adjustment relative to the rotor as is very benecial; and said grate unit is mounted in novel manner for ready removal when necessary.

A further object of the invention is to provide a nut cracking and shelling machine which includes a novel, reciprocating wiper unit cooperating with the grate unit to prevent jamming or overloading at the lead end of said unit.

A further object of the invention is to produce a relatively simple, practical. and convenient device and one which will be exceedingly eiective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specication and claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the imi proved nut cracking and shelling machine.

Figure 2 is a transverse section on line 2--2 oi A cracking rotor, indicated generally at l. exf' tends horizontally between the side walls 2 of housing I; said cracking rotor E including circular end discs I having hubs 3 xed on a central shaft 9 which in turn is carried adjacent but outwardly of the side walls 2 by bearings I0 supported on the horizontal frame beams 5.

The periphery or working surface oi the cracking rotor 6 is corrugated with the corrugations extending lengthwise of the rotor and being sharp pointed, as shown. This working surface of the 2 rotor is formed by a multiplicity of cracking bars I l of angle iron conguration secured to the end discs 1 with the apex of said bars radially outermost.

The cracking rotor 6 is driven in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1 by suitable drive means applied to the shaft 9 outwardly of the housing I.

Within said housing I, and between the side walls 2 thereof, the machine includes, in cooperative relation to the cracking rotor B, an arcuate cracking plate unit, indicated generally at I2, extending over said rotor, and an arcuate grate unit, indicated generally at I3, extending beneath said rotor.

The arcuate cracking plate unit I2 is concave on the side adjacent the rotor B and is formed on a somewhat larger radius than the rotor whereby the intermediate portion or section of said cracking plate unit is spaced from the rotor at the top of the same a distance less than the minor width of an almond, but at its end portions or sections said unit I2 is spaced from the rotor a distance greater than the major width of an almond. The central section of the cracking plate unit I2 is a removable center plate I4 transversely serrated as shown, while the opposite end sections of the unit I2 are solid, relatively smooth end plates I5 and I6,respectively. The removable center plate I4 and permanent end plates I5 and I6 are supported in their respective positions by end straps I1 which follow the configuration of the cracking plate unit and are included therein; the removable center plate Ill being secured to the straps I1 by studs I8 and nuts I9.

At one end the straps I1 are extended some distance and pivotally connected to a cross shaft 20 extending between the side walls 2, and in this manner the arcuate cracking plate unit I2 is mounted for vertical adjustment relative to the rotor 6 in the manner hereinafter described.

The arcuate grate unit, as indicated generally at I3, corresponds to the shape of the cracking plate unit I2 but is upwardly concave and works in cooperation with the bottom portion of said rotor S. The grate unit I3 includes side bars 2l pivoted at one end on the cross shaft 20 for vertical swinging adjustment and afiixed to their opposite ends to a cross beam 22. The grate portion of the unit I3 includes a plurality of transversely spaced arcuate grate bars 23 secured at one end to a cross bar 24 removably attached to the cross beam 22 by bolts 25. At the opposite ends the grate bars 23 are connected by a cross bar 26 which detachably rests on guides 21 aixed to the corresponding or adjacent parts of the side bars 2l. It will thus be seen that by detachment of the cross bar 24 and the sliding of the cross bar 2li off the guides 21 that the entire grate unit I3 may be easily and readily removed from the machine, as may be necessary for cleaning, repair or replacement of another grate unit having a different spacing between the grate bars.

As with the arcuate cracking plate unit l2, the arcuate grate unit I3 approaches the rotor 6 relatively closely at the center portion of said unit I3, whereas end portions of the latter are spaced a relatively greater distance from said rotor.

The cracking plate unit I2 and theV grate unit I3 are adapted to be simultaneously vertically adjusted toward or away from the rotor 6 by means of the following control mechanism:

At the ends opposite the cross shaft the straps ill' ci. the unit lf2? and the side bars 2l of thel unit I1'3f are formed with substantially horizontal outwardly projecting fingers,y indicated at 23 and 29, respectively. The pairs of adjacent and; corresponding fingers; 28- and 291 straddle a horizontal cross shaft 30- having iixed thereon between. each. such pair-ot, ngers a double ended cam 3l.

Said pairs ofV fingers 28; and 29 are normally urged towardv each other by,v means' of a guide rod 32 pivoted: on the.` ngers 29.y of. each pair and slidably projecting; through the finger 2S of such pair, extendingy vertically above the latter. A compression spring 33y surrounds each rod 32 above the corresponding fingers 2li and such spring; is held undercompression by a hand nut 32 threaded on. the upper end of the rod.

At one end the: cross.v shaft 30 is itted with a radial hand lever 35- adapted to be held in adjusted. position by av pia-wl@` and: quadrant unit 35.

The' cross beam 22j is xedly secured` to the fingers 2S wherebyv vertical; adjustment of. said fingers is reflected in. corresponding adjustment of the cross bea-m 22y cross bar 24, and grate bars 23;

By' manipulation of the hand lever 35 in one direction the double ended cams are rotated in av manner toengage and cause' relative separationof the correspon-ding. pairs of lingers 23 and 29. When this occurs there is a corresponding upward adjustment of they cracking plate unit I2Y and'simultaneously'a proportionate down- Ward adjustment of thefgrateun-it I3. Obvious-- ly, manipulation ot the lever 35 in an opposite direction causes. the units: l-2.k and I3 to adjust" toward', rather than away from, the rotor 6. In thisY manner a ninetyy ot adjustment of the cracking plate unit. I2 and grate unitrv I3y can be accomplished byI the operator as` working conditions mayA require.

In: operation of the above described nut cracking and shelling machine, the nuts are fed by a bottom feed type elevator 3l onto the grate unit l3 from between the cross. shaft 2! and end plate IB. Withy the rotor 6 traveling in the indicated direction the nuts: are swept alongA the grate: unit. i3 and thence carried upwardly into engagement withv vthe cracking'plate-:unit l2. By reason of the gradual restriction between the cracking plate unit I2 and the rotor S in the direction of rotation the. nuts are eiiectively yet gently brought to the, center: plate I4 whence the' cracking ofv the shells of such nuts takes place against said plate lill; the cracked nuts being gradually released, by reason of the relative separation ofk the. end' plate Il from the rotor 6, to fall in cracked condition onto the grate bars 23. The cracked nuts traveling with the uncracked criesy are. worked along' thee grate unit I3.; the.` shell pieces and meats: of said cracked nuts. sepav dd between the grate bars 23.

rating and falling between the grate bars 23. into the hopper 4 for recovery and further processing.

By reason of the particular transverse corrugations, in cooperationV with the serrated center plate lli, iew nuts can pass between the rotor 6 and cracking plate I 2 without at least being initially cracked.

For the purpose of preventing cracked shells, etc. from jamming between the grate bars 23 along the portions thereof between the cross shaft 2&3 and the rotor 6, there is provided a reciprocating wiper unit, indicated generally at 38, constructed as follows:

A reciprocating frame 39 is carried on tracks 4D on the side walls 2 below but generally parallel to the identified portion of the grate bars 23. The frame 39 is reciprocated by a connecting rod di driven by an eccentric drive unit d2; the latter deriving its motion from the elevator 3l by means of an endless drive arrangement d3'. The reciprocatingV frame 3Q. includes a plurality of upstanding wipers dit' which work between the. grate bars 23 to prevent any jamming. or congestion of material therebetween. The tracks it are pivotally mounted,.as shown, and are Vertically adjustable by supporting bolts d'5. whereby to regulate the extent of projection. oi"v the wipers It should bey noted that the arrangement of the reciprocating wiper unit 3S is such that it does not interfere with the ready removal of the grate unit I3. when necessary.

The herein described nut cracking and shelling machine provides a very practical and improved machine for the purpose, having substantial. capacity yet cracking and shelling nuts with a minimum of meat breakage.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that therehas been produced such a device as substantially fu'llls the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such. deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as' defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful' and upon which Letters Patent is desired:

l. A nut cracking and shelling machine coinprising, in a supporting housing, a horizontal axis rotor having cracking elements on the periphery thereof, a concave cracking unit extending in cooperative relation over the rotor, a concave grate unit extending in cooperative relation under the rotor, means mounting the cracking unit and grate unit for vertical adjustment relative to the rotor, and" means operative to effect such adjustment; said last named means including ngers projecting from one end of the cracking unit and' grate unit, said fingers being vertically spaced, and a manually controlled mechanism operative to urge the fingers apart in opposite vertical directions to substantially equal but selective extent; said mechanism including a cross shaft: fixed for rotation between said fingers, and a double ended cam on theV shaft in engagement with the fingers, such cam having the same throw at both ends.

2. A nut cracking and` shelling machine ccmprising a supporting housing, a rotor mounted in the housing, aconcave crackingunit extending in cooperative relation to the rotor above the same, a concave grate unit extending in cooperative relation to the rotor below the same, the forward ends of the cracking unit and the grate unit extending to a point ahead of the rotor and both being pivoted at said point upon a common axis, a rearwardly projecting nger on the rear end of the cracking unit, a rearwardly projecting nger on the grate unit and spaced from the finger on the cracking unit, a shaft projecting through the space between the fingers, a double ended cam fixed to the shaft, one end of the cam moving into contact with one linger upon rotation of the shaft and the other end of the cam moving simultaneously into contact with the other nger whereby to simultaneously adjust the cracking unit and the grate unit relative to the rotor and to the same relative degree, and

ALFRED D. GOODWIN.

REFERENCES CTED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Number Name Date Campbell et a1 Sept. l, 1896 Myers Mar. 14, 1905 Cornwall Aug. 15, 1905 Vaughan Dec. 8, 1925 Stephen Dec. 22, 1925 Domelen et al Mar. 4, 1941 Hunt Mar. 4, 1941 Goodwin July 13, 1943 

